The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has dismissed media reports alleging the diversion of 5,000 Hajj 2027 slots, describing the claims as part of a coordinated misinformation campaign by a section of licensed private tour operators.
In a rejoinder signed by the Head of its Information and Publications Division, Shafii Sani, the Commission reacted to a report by THISDAY Newspaper titled “Hajj 2027: Private Operators Demand Probe of Diverted 5,000 Slots,” insisting that the allegations were driven by commercial interests rather than verifiable facts.
NAHCON noted that the report relied on claims by unnamed persons described as “Concerned Private Travel Operators,” explaining that no evidence had been presented to show that the allocation breached Saudi Arabian Hajj regulations or any NAHCON guideline.
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The Commission clarified that Nigeria’s approved allocation for the 2027 Hajj stands at 50,000 slots, made up of 35,000 slots for states and the Federal Capital Territory, and 15,000 slots for duly licensed private Hajj tour operators under seven approved lead companies.
Compliance Obligations
According to NAHCON, the companies involved in the 2027 Hajj and Umrah operations are duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and other relevant regulatory agencies, and remain subject to the same compliance obligations and sanctions applicable to all licensed operators.
The Commission described the controversy as fundamentally commercial, arising from competition among operators for a limited number of slots.
It said the real challenge facing some operators is meeting the requirements of the Saudi Nusuk-Masar digital platform, whose registration deadline of September 26, 2026, it said was fixed by Saudi authorities and cannot be extended.
NAHCON warned that operators who fail to upload pilgrims’ data or meet their obligations before the deadline would bear full responsibility for the consequences.
The NAHCON said it would not hesitate to apply sanctions, including suspension, licence revocation, and blacklisting, where necessary.
The Commission urged intending pilgrims who registered through private travel agencies to verify their enrollment status and ensure their biometric details are uploaded on the Nusuk platform before the deadline.
NAHCON reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, equity and accountability, stressing that it would not be distracted by what it called campaigns driven by undisclosed interests.
